CAMPUS FEATURE
SECURING HER FUTURE
WORLDWIDE ONLINE CAMPUS Earn your degree on your
terms, your schedule and from anywhere in the world through one of the nation’s top online bachelor’s programs.
Worldwide Degree Brings Young Mother Closer to Her Dream As she graduated in the fall of 2023, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Katie Hammond admitted there had been plenty of times over the past five years when she felt overwhelmed. But Hammond, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security from the Worldwide Campus, said she just focused on one term at a time and kept going. “I want to contribute to the success of our family and establish my own identity and career,” she said. “I found that if I want something, the only person holding myself back is myself.” Hammond, who lives in San Diego, originally planned to become a nurse; however, working for a year in security for the U.S. Navy changed her mind. That’s when her interest in security and intelligence took root. “I worked in a naval command’s security department, and I realized how much bigger the purpose was,” she said. “We are protecting the country’s safety and security. It’s exciting.” Her ideal job would be working in intelligence for a government agency in the Washington, D.C., area, she said. Taking classes through Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus has allowed Hammond the flexibility to earn her degree while also caring for her children: Lauren, 11; Alex, 9; Hunter, 6; and Mason, 3.
“My husband is active-duty U.S. Navy and mostly on a ship, so it’s usually just me,” said Hammond. “It is consistently stressful, and the logistics are complicated.” She also has held a full-time job most of the time that she has been a student, and, just recently, she made the tough decision to stop working during her senior year to focus on her studies. “I’ve learned not to be ashamed if things become so much that you have to take a step back,” she said. “My education is my top priority right now.” Growing up in the Seattle area, she said her father worked at The Boeing Company, where she first became familiar with Embry-Riddle. Dr. Nicole Bier, an assistant professor at Worldwide’s College of Aviation, knows firsthand that Hammond is passionate about working in the intelligence community. Bier said Hammond earned the highest overall grade in her advanced intelligence course and went above and beyond collecting as much information as possible for each assignment, approaching each project as if it were a real-world intelligence report. Hammond said she looked forward to walking across the stage to receive her degree, adding that her family was excited for her to finish so that she can now spend more time with them.
CAMPUS PROFILE
s 15,300 Undergraduate Students s 50 States / 82 Countries Represented s 10 Start Terms Per Year for Online Programs Online Classes s Students complete assignments, join discussions, study and ask questions on their own schedule. s Courses are divided into nine week-long modules. s Classwork takes eight to 12 hours per week. s Students manage their time and resources while earning their degrees. s Faculty members use technology and gamification to enhance the learning experience. s Completing a degree online can save money on tuition, fees, transportation and housing costs.
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27 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
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